Step-ladder.



- No 663,042. Patented Dec. 4, I900.

C. RIVERS.

STEP LADDER.

(Application filed Nov. 28,1899.)

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CAMPBELL RIVERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 663,042, dated December {1, 1900.

Application filed November 28, 1899. Serial No. 738,546. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL RIVERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Step-Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in step-ladders; and it consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

My invention consists in a ladder comprising side members, castings secured to said ladder and provided with pockets, extensions forming parts of said castings, lugs forming parts of said extensions and arranged at right angles to the latter and adapted to cooperate with the side members of the ladder, fastening devices passed through said lugs and into the edges of the side members, said pockets having opposite inclined flat-bearing surfaces, legs or supports located in said pockets and having upper flat ends, the edges of said legs adapted to cooperate with the bear- IDg-Sill'fftUGS of said pockets and on each side a single bolt passing through one of said cast ings, the upper end of one of the legs proper, and a side member of the ladder, all of which will appear from the detail description to follow.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of my complete invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail and side elevation showing the hinge, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 00 00 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the ladder proper, which is constructed in the usual manner and provided with steps 2, which are located between and secured to the side members 3 of said ladder and projecting forward and beyond the latter. Secured to the outside surfaces of said members 3 on a line with the steps 2 are angular plates 4:, which extend over the front edges of said side members, having their free ends secured to the front inclined edges of the steps 2, nails castings being composed of a bracket having an upper flat surface 8, upon which are adapted to rest the tops 9 or supporting member of the ladder, the opposite edges of the latter being in contact with the opposite lugs 10 of the castings 7, nails 11 being passed through said lugs and into the opposite edges of the supporting bed or member 9, whereby the latter is securely fastened to thecasting. The lower portion of the casting comprises a pocket 12, having opposite inclined fiat hearing surfaces 13 and 14-, said pocket receiving the upper end of one of the legs oi supports 6, with one of its edges in contact with one of the inclined bearing-surfaces of said pocket. In other words, when the ladder is in an open position one of the flat edges of the legs or supports will be in contact with the inclined bearingsurfaces 1 of the pockets; but when i said ladder is in a closed position the opposite edges of said legs or supports will be in Contact with the inclined bearingsurfaces 13 of said pocket, whereby a perfect support and brace is given the legs 6 when in either position.

In order to secure the upper ends of the legs to the casting 7 and in their proper position within the pockets 12 of the same, bolts 15 are passed through said castings, upper ends of the legs, and through the upper ends of the members 3 of the ladder proper, whereby the said legs or supports may be freely moved in either direction.

Forming a continuation of the casting 7 and located below the fiat surfaces 8 of the same is an arm or extension 16, havingalug 17 formed at right angles to the same, the extension aud lug adapted to embrace the outer surface of the side members 3 and the front edges thereof, respectively, nails 18 or other fastening devices being passed through said lug and into the edge of the members 3, whereby the castings 7 operate to securely too hold the ladder proper in a rigid position in respect to the castings.

By the employment of the pockets 12, or more properly the construction of the same, I am enabled to cut the upper ends of the legs 6 square, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, which is not only a cheap construction in its manufacture, but a considerable amount of material is left which prevents the wood from splitting as heretofore where it was necessary to cut off the corners of the upper ends of the legs in order to allow the latter to be turned Within the pockets, whereby it will readily be seen that I not only construct a cheaper ladder, but one that is more durable and lasting.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim is- 1. A ladder, comprising side members, castings secured to said ladder and provided with pockets, the latter having opposite inclined flat bearing-surfaces, legs or supports located in said pockets, and having upper flat ends, the edges of said legs adapted to cooperate with the bearing-surfaces of said pockets, and on each side a single bolt passing through one of said castings, the upper end of one of the legs'proper, and a side member of the latter, as and for the purpose described.

2. A ladder, com prising side members, castings secured to said ladder and provided with pockets,extensions forming parts of said castings, lugs forming parts of said extensions and arranged at right angles to the latter, and adapted to cooperate with the side members of the ladder. fastening devices passed through said lugs and into the edges of the side members, said pockets having opposite inclined fiat bearing-surfaces, legs or supports located in said pockets, and having up per flat ends, the edges of said legs adapted to cooperate with the bearing-surfaces of said pockets, and on each side a single bolt passing through one of said castings, the upper end of one of the legs proper, and a side member of the ladder, as and for the purpose described.

In Iestimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CAMPBELL RIVERS.

Witnesses:

O. F. KELLER, ALFRED A. MATHEY. 

